Weft detecting mechanism for pick and pick looms



C. E. BROWN Aug. 23, 1932.

WEF'I, DETECTING MECHANISM FOR PICK AND PICK LQOMS Filed May 1, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ms M u 0 T m in W n o efi u Wm y m 'Aug'. 23, 1932. c. E. BROWN 1,873,183

WEFT DETECTING MECHANISM FOR PICK AND PICK LOOMS Filed May 1, 1931 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE CLYDE 'E. BROWN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CROMPTON- & OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION. OF

KNOWLES LOOM WORKS, MASSACHUSETTS Application filed May 1 This invention relates to a weft replenishing loom having two shuttle boxes at each side of the loom and using two shuttleswhich are picked alternately and successively, first in one direction and then in the other. Each shuttle lays one pick of weft or filling and then goes out of action fora single pick but lays a pick of filling in the opposite direction on the next succeeding pick. It is the general object of my invention to J provide an improved and simplified weft detecting mechanism by which the condition of the weft supply in the shuttle about to become active may be readily and reliably determined. d A further object of the invention is to provide means permitting the detecting mechanism to follow the rising or falling movement of the shuttle boxes during weft detection, 2 and for automatically returning the detecting mechanism to an intermediate initial. position after a detecting movement. My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. A preferred form of theinvention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig.1 is a side elevation, partly in section,

'30 of portions of the loom having my invention applied thereto;

Fig.2 is a detail sectional elevation, taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; p

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 1, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic side elevations showing the operation of my improved detecting mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown portions of a loom frame 10 and a lay 11 having upper and lower shuttle boxes 12 and 13 mounted for vertical movement as a unit in a lay end or frame 14. The'shu'ttle boxes 12 and 13 are mounted at the upper end of the usual lifter rod 15, which is moved upward on one pick and downward on the next pick alternately and successively by any usual box mechanism. A

Similar shuttle boxes and lifting mechanism are provided at the opposite end of the 1931. Serial No. 5343a. ,7

loom (notshownl anda magazine and weft replenishing mechanism is also provided at the opposite sideof the loom. V

Upper and lower weft detecting devices 20 and 21 are mounted on spaced projections 22 and23on the side of a supporting bar 25,

which is mounted for verticalsliding move-'2 ment in a stand or support 26 bolted to the loom frame 10. a

An open wire frame 30 is pivoted in bearings 31 a'nd 32 on the side of the fixed support 26 in position for engagement by the detecting members 40 or 41. of the upper and lower detecting devices20 and21. i

These detecting devices 20and 21 are of the side-slippingtype, being so constructed thatthe detectors 40 and 41 swing to the'left, as viewed'in Fig. 8, in the direction of the arrow at and toward the tip of the bobbin B in the shuttle S or S. An indicating member 44 (Fig. connected by a link45 t'o the-outer upright er: 7

tion of the swinging'frame 80 and is adapted to be projected into the path of a floating lever 47 upon sidewise indicating movement of one of the detectors 40 or 41.-

The weft detecting devices2 0" and-21 and the operating connections between these devices and the weft replenishing mechanism are all of a usual commercial type and in themselves form no part of my present in-' vention. v

' The detecting devices 20 and 21 arespaced apart on the support 25 a distance substan tially equal to twice the distance between cen-' ters of theupper and lower shuttle boxes 12 and 13. f The support 25 is provided with studs 50 and 51 positioned to enter a segmental slot 52 in a bracket 53' secured to the under side of the shifting shuttle boxes 12 and 13 and movable vertically therewith.

The lower end of the support 25 normally rests upon a plate 60, formed at one. end of a lever 61 swinging about a fixed pivot or 9 stud 62 and having a weight W at the opposite end. The weighted end of the lever 61 normally rests upon a fixedsupport 63.

Having described the detailsof construction of my improved weft detecting mecha- L nism, I will now describe the operation thereof, with special reference to Flgs. 4 and 5.

The slide or support 25 is normally supported bythe lever 61 in the initial position indicated in full lines in Figs. 4 and 5. In this position, the lower weft detector 41 1s opposite the lower shuttle S if the shuttle boxes are in lowered position, and the upper weft detector is opposite the "upper shut-7 tle S if the shuttle boxes are in raised position.

Assuming that-the boxes are lowered as indicated in Fig. 4, the detecting member 41 will enter the lower shuttle S as the lay' moves forward, and the lower stud 51 will enterthe segmental slot 52 inthe bracket 53. i As the lay approaches front center, the boxes are shifted to bring the shuttle S to its raised or running position, asindicated in Fig. 5. During this movement, the detecting device 41 will be raised by the bracket 53 to the position indicated at 41 in Fig. 4.

During such movement, the support 25 is raised away from. the plate 60 of the lever 61. As the lay moves rearwardafter the boxes are raised, the support 25 is released and the support and detectors return by gravity to the normal position indicated in full lines in Figs. 4 and 5.

If the boxes are in raised position as the lay'moves forward, the upper detecting mem-' ber 40 enters the upper shuttle S, while the.

upper stud 50 is engaged by the segmental slot 52. As the boxes are thereafter lowered, the detecting device 40 moves to the position 7 indicated at 40 in Fig. 5. During this movement, the support 25 is depressed, raising the weight W. As the lay moves rearward and the stud 50 is released, the weight W returns the detecting device to initial or normal position.

' It will be noted that one of the weft detectors always cooperates with the shuttle Sor S which is out ofrunning position as thelay moves forward but which is about to be moved to running position. Conse'-.-

mechanism will always indicate the shuttle about to become active and about to be sent to the magazine side of the loom, and I accomplish this result without the use of pattern mechanlsm or the setting of. movable parts in selected positions.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is *1. In a weft replenishing, double-shuttle pick-and-pick loom having a lay, a pair of shifting shuttle boxes at each end of said lay, and meansrto shift said'boxes' after every pick of the loom, in combination, a pair of weft detecting devices at one-endofthe lay .mounted on a movable support and ma c'ally spaced apart. a distance substantially equal to twice the vertical distance from center tocenter of a pair of shuttle boxes, means normally positioning said support and detecting devices' as aunit vertically so'that.

one or the other of said devices is opposite the shuttle about to become active, and means to cause" said detectingdevices and shuttle boxes to move vertlcally in unison as the boxes are shifted."

2. The combination in aloom as set forth in claim 1, inwhich means is provided to restore said support and detecting devices to initial position after a downward displacement thereof.

3. The combination in a-loom as set forth inlclaim 1, in which said support and detecting devices are mounted for yielding movement in either direction from initial pOSlt 1OI1 ,'8.IlCl1I1 whlch means is provided for returnlng saldsupport and detecting devices to initial position after a downward displacement thereof.

4. The combination in a loom as set forth in claim'l, in which said support and detect ing devices are mounted for yielding movement in either direction from-initial position, and in which'said support and detectmg devices return to initial position by gravity after displacement in one direction, and

in which "a counterweight is'provid'ed to return said support and detecting devices "to initial position after displacement in the posi'te direction. 1 r u 5. In a. loom, a pair of shifting shuttleboxes,-a pair ofweft detecting devices mount ed on a movable support and spaced apart thereon a distance substantiallyjequal to twice the center-to-center distance of said shuttle boxes, and yielding means to move said support to an initial position in which the upper detector, is opposite the, extreme high position of the upper shuttlebox and the lower detector is opposite the extreme low position of the lower shuttle box.

.6. The combination in a loom 'asset forth,

in claim 5, in which means is provided for moving said detectors vertically with the shuttle boxes during indication of weft exhaustion. u i

7. The combination inaloom as set forth in claim 5, in which means is provided-for moving said detectors vertically with they shuttle boxes during indication of weftex ceiving one or haustion, and in which yielding means is provided to restore said support and detectors to initial position after indication.

8. In a loom, a pair of shifting shuttle boxes, a pair of weft detecting devices mounted on a movable support and spaced apart thereon by a distance substantially equal to twice the center-to-center distance of said shuttle boxes, yieldingmeans to move said support to an initial position in which the upper detector is opposite the extreme high position of the upper shuttle box and the lower detector is opposite the extreme low position of the lower shuttle box, one of said detectors being inoperative and the other detector engaging the shuttle which is out of running position, and means to move said detector with said shuttle to running position during weft indication.

9. In a weft replenishing, double-shuttle, pick-and-pick loom having a lay, a pair of shifting shuttle boxes at each end of said lay, and means to shift said boxes after every pick of the loom, in combination, a'pair of weft detecting devices at one end of the lay mounted on a movable support and vertically spaced apart a distance substantially equal to twice the vertical distance from center to center of a pair of shuttle boxes, a pair of studs on said movable support, spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the center-to-center distance of said boxes, and a bracket carried by said boxes and having a segmental slot open at its front end and rethe other of said studs as the lay moves forward.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CLYDE E. BROWN. 

